Who does not like animal stories? As a child, I wanted to be an environmentalist and a vet. The problem was that I was afraid of biology and dissection, so I contented myself with animal stories, knowing no other option.Gill Lewis's White Dolphin filled my heart. It was a story that jumped out of the pages and touched me despite the fact that I knew nothing about the particular problems it addressed.White Dolphin is a story of humane humans and their attempts to be what human beings should be - kind, brave and generous. Questions remain unanswered even at the end of the book, but there is no feeling of dissatisfaction there. Because life is like that. There are no clues leading to all the most beautifully crafted answers. Sometimes, you have to move away from the question to reach another, more important question.During my last workshop, we spoke about how lovely stories are … [Read more...]
Vocabulary Workshop at JustBooks, Wanawadi
My reading workshop at the British Library is over; it's time for the next workshop!This one is on my side of town this time - at JustBooks Wanawadi.Vocabulary Workshop for Children by Varsha Seshan Dates: 27th and 28th September, 2014 Time: 10:30 am to 12:30 pm Venue: JustBooks, Wanowarie Age-group: 8-12 years Registration fee: Rs. 500Contact me for more details! … [Read more...]
Read Something New! – Day Four
Children's imaginations are simply wonderful.Today, I met - a porcupine who dreamed of being a pillow - a hen that had three wings and could not fly - a snail that ran marathons - a dinosaur with twenty legs - a mouse that went to school and many more.Two by two, these animals had conversations. Another wonderful reading workshop at the British Library is over. I can't wait for the next. … [Read more...]
The Memory Cage
A truly wonderful book.What can a boy do when his grandfather has Alzheimer's and everyone else in his family wants him to go to a home? How can he convince his family that it's cruel?The Memory Cage is a stark depiction of war and loneliness. War is not about bravery and courage.Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori. Everyone knows that's a lie.But what happens if no one wants to know the truth? What happens when people want to look away from the truth that is staring them in the face?Memories of sadness, grief and loss cannot be put in a box and hidden under the bed. If you try to do that, the repercussions will be violent.And that is what a young boy discovers - for himself and his grandfather. … [Read more...]
Street of Tall People
I was intrigued by the title; who wouldn't be?The World War has not yet begun, but anti-Jewish sentiments run high. I know nothing of this time.Street of Tall People is set in East London, about which, also, I know nothing.Yet, the story reached out to me.Awkwardness and friendship. Loyalty, trust and betrayal. Loneliness and the quest for someone who understands. Idealism and cynicism.Street of Tall People is one of those books that shows you that even in a cruel, heartless mob is someone who is not tied to you by blood or religion, but is still family. That person there is still part of your idealistic brotherhood, however cynical other people may be. … [Read more...]
Ten Book Challenge
The ten book challenge has been doing the rounds for a bit, and I thought I'd write a bit more than the names of the books here. I think I owe the books that much. I'm taking the challenge literally and naming books, not series.1) The Mystery of the Missing Necklace - Enid Blyton I've read this one more than any other book of hers, I think, which is saying a lot. If I mention Enid Blyton as a whole, I know the Faraway Tree series and the Famous Five series have to feature, but as a book in itself, this one won me over many times. It mixed cleverness and humour with a magical formula I loved!2) A Little Princess - Frances Hodgson Burnett This was one of the first books to make my heart ache. I cried with both joy and happiness. When I finished reading it, I wanted to read it again, and I never wanted to read it again because of how sad it made me.3) George's Marvellous Medicine - … [Read more...]
Read Something New! – Day Three
The second-last session of Read Something New! just came to an end. We had limericks, nonsense verse, drama, mimes and group rhymes. Our author in focus this week was Michael Morpurgo; next week, we're going to talk about Dick King-Smith.Read Something New! Venue: British Library, Pune … [Read more...]
Read Something New!
Holiday over; I am back to work. Sometimes, I wonder which I enjoy more - the holiday or the work!Session 3 of my reading workshop Read Something New! at the British Library Pune is tomorrow. We are going to be talking about Michael Morpurgo, and I am excited.Read Something New! - Session 3 Venue: British Library, Pune Age-group: 9-12 Time: 3-5 pm Dates: 17th & 24th August and 7th & 14th September … [Read more...]
Holiday Pictures
Two pictures I could not resist sharing ... … [Read more...]
Goodbye, Gangtok …
We woke up at 4:30 this morning. This far east, it is not as early as it sounds to my Western Ghat friends. The sun rose soon after, and we stood at the window and watched the clouds. We saw the Khangchendzonga. She played with us, hiding in the clouds and peeking out again. We saw the other stunning mountains. Those picturesque peaks played with us too. The sun glinted off the snowy slopes, almost blinding in its brightness.We said goodbye to the mountains, and before we left, the mountains said goodbye to us. By six o clock, all we could see was the cloud cover. No mountains, no snow, no blinding light.Au revoir, Gangtok. I will come back. My head is full of happy memories; how can I not? … [Read more...]